Patent US4302286A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4302286A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly and ultrasonic centering device
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co LLC
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Filing: 1979-04-24
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Granted: 1981-11-24
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Expires: 1999-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly (17) having an improved positioning device (80) for properly and repeatedly locating the inspection transducers (75) of the assembly within a hollow portion of the reactor vessel cavity. An acoustic transducer of the positioning device of this invention is affixed to the positioning arm (40) of the inspection transducers (75). The positioning transducer is operable to generate and simultaneously, radially direct acoustic signals around the circumference of the hollow portion of the vessel cavity and receive the signals reflected off of the cavity walls at a location within the hollow cavity. Means are provided for monitoring the received signals as a function of time. The in-service inspection assembly transducer positioning arm is arranged to automatically move in response to the monitored difference in the time of reception of the received signals to locate the positioning transducer at a preestablished location within the hollow portion of the reactor cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard J. Lefebvre
- 👤 William H. Krueger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:45
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/003; G21C17/01; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N29/0609; G01N29/0645; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An improved reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly having an inspection transducer positioning arm wherein the improvement comprises means for locating the positioning arm at a pre-established location within a hollow portion of the reactor vessel cavity wherein the locating means includes: means affixed to the positioning arm for generating and simultaneously, radially, directing acoustic signals around the circumference of the hollow portion of the vessel cavity and receiving the signals reflected off of the cavity walls and redirected to the location from which the signals were originally, radially directed, at a position within the hollow portion wherein the generating and receiving means comprises an acoustic transducer and reflector wherein the reflector is constructed to radially direct the acoustic signals generated by the transducer to the walls of the hollow portion of the reactor vessel cavity and redirect the acoustic energy reflected off the cavity walls back to the reflector to the transducer; means for monitoring the received signals as a function of time; and means for positioning the arm in response to the monitored difference in time of reception of the received signals, at the pre-established location within the hollow portion of the reactor vessel cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
An improved reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly having an inspection transducer positioning arm wherein the improvement comprises means for locating the positioning arm at a pre-established location within a hollow portion of the reactor vessel cavity wherein the locating means includes: means affixed to the positioning arm for generating and simultaneously, radially, directing acoustic signals around the circumference of the hollow portion of the vessel cavity and receiving the signals reflected off of the cavity walls and redirected to the location from which the signals were originally, radially directed, at a position within the hollow portion wherein the generating and receiving means comprises an acoustic transducer and reflector wherein the reflector is constructed to radially direct the acoustic signals generated by the transducer to the walls of the hollow portion of the reactor vessel cavity and redirect the acoustic energy reflected off the cavity walls back to the reflector to the transducer; means for monitoring the received signals as a function of time; and means for positioning the arm in response to the monitored difference in time of reception of the received signals, at the pre-established location within the hollow portion of the reactor vessel cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 1 wherein the generating and receiving means comprises an acoustic transducer having a cylindrical acoustic generating face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 2 wherein the axis of revolution of the cylindrical generating face is coincident with the axis of the positioning arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflector is shaped as a cone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflector is shaped as a three-sided pyramid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflector is shaped as a four-sided pyramid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflector is positioned on the axis of the positioning arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 6 wherein the means for locating the arm moves the arm in a forward and reverse direction along lines parallel to both the X and Y axes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 1 or 8 wherein the means for locating the arm positions the arm at the pre-established location automatically in response to the monitored difference in time of reception of the received signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 1 wherein the pre-established location is substantially at the center of the hollow portion of the reactor vessel cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reactor vessel in-service inspection assembly of claim 10 wherein the means for locating the arm moves the arm in a direction to minimize the time difference between received signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for identifying a pre-established location within a hollow cavity comprising: means for generating and simultaneously, radially directing acoustic signals around the circumference of the cavity and receiving the signals reflected off of the cavity walls and redirected to the location from which the signals were originally, radially directed, at a position within the cavity wherein the generating and receiving means comprises an acoustic transducer and reflector wherein the reflector is constructed to radially direct the acoustic signals generated by the transducer to the walls of the cavity and redirect the acoustic energy reflected of the cavity walls back to the reflector to the transducer; means for monitoring the received signals as a function of time; and means for positioning the generating and receiving means in response to the monitored difference in time of reception of the received signals, at the pre-established location within the cavity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for identifying a pre-established location within a hollow cavity comprising: means for generating and simultaneously, radially directing acoustic signals around the circumference of the cavity and receiving the signals reflected off of the cavity walls and redirected to the location from which the signals were originally, radially directed, at a position within the cavity wherein the generating and receiving means comprises an acoustic transducer and reflector wherein the reflector is constructed to radially direct the acoustic signals generated by the transducer to the walls of the cavity and redirect the acoustic energy reflected of the cavity walls back to the reflector to the transducer; means for monitoring the received signals as a function of time; and means for positioning the generating and receiving means in response to the monitored difference in time of reception of the received signals, at the pre-established location within the cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the reflector is constructed as a pyramid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the reflector is a three-sided pyramid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the reflector is a four-sided pyramid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means for positioning the generating and receiving means moves the generating and receiving means in a forward and reverse direction along lines parallel to both the X and Y axes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 12 or 16 wherein the means for positioning the generating and receiving means positions the generating and receiving means at the pre-established location automatically in response to the monitored difference in time of reception of the received signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the pre-established location is substantially at the center of the cavity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the means for positioning the generating and receiving means moves the generating and receiving means in a direction to minimize the time difference between received signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-11-23 | 1985-05-25 | 1985-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-23 | 1989-05-25 | 1989-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-23 | 1993-05-25 | 1993-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |